Flying-machine.



G. A. HAMILTON.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 1910.

vPatented Aug. 13, 1912.

3 SHEETS-BEBBT 1.

ATTORNEYS G. A. HAMILTON.

FLYING MACHINE.

AYPLIOATION FILED JAN.6, 1010.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEIJT 2.

H mm m w WITNESES:

ATTORNEYS U. A. HAMILTON.

FLYING MACHINE.

AYPLIOATION FILED JAILG, 1910.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES:

' ATTORNEY8 40 cranes indicate 'corregponding parts in all cmms annnnrnamnron, or nnw ronx, 1:. Y.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 6, 1810. Serial No. 538,608.

Patented ,Aug. 13, 1912.

To all whom it may concern.

Be itknown that I, (inaimns A. HAMIL- TON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, 'Long 7 Island Cit borough of Queens, in the county of ueens and State of New York, have invented 'a new and Improved 'Flying- 'Machine, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description. Y This invention relates to'animprovement in flying machines, of that type known as helicopter. I

' An object of this invention is to provide a device whi h will be simple in construction, ,1ight in weight, eflicient and safe .in its operation, and-easily dirigible.

A further object of this invention is to provide aflyin' machine of the helicopter type with a p urality of propellers, and

means fof directing the line of action of f said prpipellers so as to traverse the machine in any lrection. A still further object of this invention is to provide a flying machine with a plurality of helicopter propellers, and means for throwing mto and out of operation any one of said lpropellers. v A sti toprovide means for automatically controlling the equilibrium of the flying-machine y 7 driving mechanism. These and further objects, together with the construction and combination of parts, will be more full described hereinafter an particularly set orth in-the claims. 'Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters ofgref the -views, and in'whi 1is a side view elevation, partly in section to showthedetailed construction,

- and withsome of the positions of the. ro-

form 2, there is sellers shown in full 51nd. dot-ted iines igf: isatop p an view, 6w1n' g-a um y o m Egsitions of the propellers in and dotted es; -Fig.'3- is an enlarged. vertical longitudinal section showingin detail the clutches and mechanism for operating the same; Fig. a enla ve ica sectional i one of the HQIVGI'QBIQOHDQQfiODS of the Eopeller-shaft tothe and g.

-5 is a reduced transverse. section illustrating se e e amhe; u lar ce 'm i swam of th p-- further object ofinvention is pendulum member connected to the Referring more particularly to the'separate arts, 1 indicates the base or sup ortlng frame; which is preferably formed of a pair of ar cuate tubes 3 and 4, arranged .in cata-. 6o maran fashion'xso as to form a broad and yet light supporting structure which will readily float on water, and which ma be' filled with a suitable buoyant gas, suc as hydrogen, to increase the lightness of the same. The tubes 3 and 1 are connected at their ends b a platform 2, extending longitudinally o the frame to form a horizontal deck for the operator.

Rotatably-supported on theframe 1, pref- 7o erabl adjacent the ends thereof, there are rovlded a pluralityof stub shafts 5 and 6. onnected tojthese shafts 5 and 6.by means of universal joints 7 and 8, there areprovided pro ller shafts 9 and 10, which extend up rough universal joints 11 in a guiding and supportin beam '12. A type of joint-suitable for t is purpose is-more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. Beyond he universal connection of the shafts 9 and 1O withthe beam 12, there are v provided on each of the shafts helicopter propellers 13 and 14, which preferably conslst of frames 16 extendin ateach side of the shafts 9 and-1'0 and provided with blades 17 and18extending from'opposite sides of the frames 16. Theseblades 17 'and18 ma be made of any suitable light material, suc as Japanese sllk, oiled linen, or'the' like, and may be curvedin any form suitable to give the desired liftin' and propelling force: The outer ends of t ese blades 17 and 18 are also preferably strengthened and reinforcedby means of flexible guys 19 and 20, which extend to the shafts 9 and 10 on opposite sides of theconnection of the frames 16- to the shafts. Thebeam 12 is pivotally' connected at 21 to a supporting post 22, whlch has a unlversal connection .at 23 to the frame 1. Adjaceritthe 0st 22. on the plat.-

' rovided an o rators seat 24, which ispre erably pivota y su ported 0n brackets-25 connected .to the me 1. On'the post 22 in juxtaposition to the o elatots seat 24, there is provid d a an e I whemb the P 2 may be swung back;

ward and orward, or rotated about its axis. 7 It will be seenthat by this means the operat r can swing the post 22 and together with it the shafts. 9 and 10, in any direction from 110 their vertipal osition. Several of the po- "sitions are in cated in the full and dotted sir; sen

lines in Figs. 1 and 2. It will thus be seen by this means that the ropellers 13 and 14 can be directed so that t eir propelllng force will tend tolift the flying machine either directly up, to the right or to the left, or forwarder backward, or inany direction intervening the above-mentioned directions.

The shafts 5 and 6 are provided with suitable driving members 27, which are shown in the form of sprocket wheels, and are connected by means of any suitable flexible connection, such aschains 28, to drive sprockets 29 and 30 loosely mounted on a shaft 31. s

It is often desired to stop or diminish the rotation of one of the helicopter propellers while the other is s%; ll rotating, in order that the direction of t e flying machine may be changed, to raise or 1' wer the same. For

this purpose. the 'sprock twlieels 29 and 30 I are provided with clutch faces 31 and 32,

which are adapted to be en aged by corresponding clutch faces 33 and 34, which are splined onto the shaft 31. These clutches 33 and 34 are normally held in engagement with the clutch faces 31 and 32 y means of springs 35 and 35, which enga e the opposite sides of a stationary brac et see cured to the frame 1 in any well known manner and the back side of "the clutches 33 and 34.

In order that the clutches 33land 34 may be individually drawn out of engagement with the corresponding clutch faces on the sprocket wheels 29 and 30, they are prov ded with interlocking'fingers 36 and 37, which slidingly 'mesh with each other in a dovetailed fashion, and which are provided with upstanding flanges 38 and 39.

.Interposed between the flanges 38 and 39,

there is provided a shift-ing ring 40, which is adapted to engage these flanges to shift the clutches 33 and 34 in. opposite directions against the tension of the springs 35 and 35. For the purpose of manipulating. the shifting ring 40, there is provided a bell crank lever 41, which is pivotally secured to the bracket 60in any well'known manner.. The

bellv crank lever is pivotally connected, by means of alconnecting rod 42, to the swinging operators-seat24, so as to be operated thereby. It will thus be seen that the operato1j,-:by shifting his seat 24, can throw either one of the clutches 33 'or 34, which are normally in engagement with the sprocket wheels 29 and 30, out of engagement therewith, thereby disconnecting that particular helicopter propeller connected,

thereto from its operat-lveconnection with 'the shaft 31. The shaft 31 extends in alinement with, but is ,loosely connected to, a

' shaft 43. This shaft 43 is provided with a "clutch 44, splined thereon, which is adapted to be mo ed into and out of engagement with a corresponding clutch 45 secured to'the The opposite end of the shaft 43 has secured thereon'a bevel gear '49, whih meshes with a corresponding bevel gear 50 on a motor shaft 51, which is driven by a motor 52 that may beof anysuitable character, such as a gasolene engine. The supply of fuel for the motor 52 can be stored in a suitable tank 53' on the frame 1, or it may be stored in the hollow tubes 3'and 4 on the frame 1..

The operation of the device willbe readily understood when taken inconnection with the-above description. The machine may be started from the water, or

from the round, if desired. In starting the machine, the motor 52 is run until it is shown to be in good working order, and

then the clutch member 44 thrown into en-v gagement with the clutch member 45, by

'means of the lever 48, and inasmuch as the clutches 33 and 34 are normallyjn engagefment with the driving sprockets29 and'30,

the propellers 13 and 14 will be simultaneously rotated. These propellers, which are.

shown to rotate in the same direction, may

be caused to rotate in opposite directions if deemed, and will exert a lifting force on I the machine and tend to raise it u in the air. By manipulating the handle ever 26, the operator can direct the pull of the ro-. pellers 'of the machine, so as to cause it to travel forward, rearward, to one side or the other, ordirectly vertical. If for any reason it is desired to rotate one of the propellers and leave the other idle, the operator can, by bracing back on the platform 2, actuate the seat 24,,to shift one of the clutches 33 or 34 out of, engagement with its corresponding clutch face on the gears 29 and 30. By this means, the machine" can bepulled entirely from the front or entirely from the, rear, and thereby alter its vertical direction or counteract any irregularities in the equilibrium of the machine. This latter feature is quite important, in that it constitut-es an automatic equilibrium control for the machine. For example, if the operator allows his weightto remain substantially dead in the swinging seat 24 without bracing himself to any extent, the tendency of the seat with his dead weight thereon,v

acting like a pendulum to hold a position in line with the center of gravity of the earth,

will cdunteract the tilting motion of the machine by throwing out of operation: the propeller on the highest end of the machine.

Whilethe frame of the machine is best adapted to land on and rise from water, it

ters Patent pluralityof prop propellers' on said shafts, a drive shaft on -may be provided with suitable roller supports, by means of which it can travel on the ground.

While I have shown one embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the specific details disclosed therein, but desire to be protected in various changes, modifications and alterations which I maymake ,within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- 1. The combination with a'frame, of a pair of propeller shafts mounted on said frame, propellers on said shafts, a drive shaft mounted on said frame, meansv for driving said drive shaft, a pair of sprockets loosely mounted on said drive shaft, drivin connections between said sprockets and sai propeller shafts, said sprockets having clutch faces, a pair of clutches slidin 1y mounted on said driveshaft, a spring for normally urging said clutches in drlving engagement with said clutch faces on said sprockets, and a lever for operatin alternatively either of said clutches agalnst the tension of said spring.

2. The combination with a frame, of a pair of propeller shafts mounted on, said frame, propellers on said shafts, a drive shaft mounted on said frame, means for drlvmg sa1d-drive shaft, a pair of sprockets loosely mountedon said drive shaft, driving connections between said sprockets and sai propeller shafts, said sprockets. having clutch faces, a pairof clutches slidin ly mounted on said drive shaft, a spring for normally urging said clutches 'in" drivin engagement with said clutchfaces on sai sprockets, a lever for operating alternatively either of said clutches against the and an operators 3. The combination with a frame, of, a eller shafts on saidframe,

said frame, members on said drive shaft, drlvmg-connections between said members and sa1d propeller shafts, said members having 0 posed clutch faces, a pair of clutches s idingly mounted on said drive shaft and adapted to engage said clutch faces, a spring interposed between said clutches and a apted to urge both of said clutches normally into enga ement with said clutch faces a collar for forcing either of said clutches out of" enga ement with either of said clutch faces, an a lever for operating said collar.

" 4. The combination with a frame, of a plurality of propeller shafts on said frame, propellers on sa1d shafts, a driveshaft on said frame, members on said drive shaft, driving connections between said members and said propeller shafts, said members having opposed clutch faces, a pair of clutches slldingly mounted on said drive shaft and adapted to engage said clutch faces, a sprin interposed between sa1d clutches and a apted to urge both of'said clutches normally intd engagement with said clutch faces, a collar for forcing elther of said clutches out of engagement with ating said collar, and a for o crating sa1d lever. I

5. In a flying machine, the combmation' with frame, of a shaft located at thefront and rear ends of said frame, a propeller 0 pendulum member 'shaft having a universal connectionwith" each of said first-mentioned shafts. a propeller on each of said propeller shafts, a beam extending longitudinally of said 3 frame and connected at its endsto said{pro- B5 peller shafts by a universal connection, a post located substantially at the m1ddle of. said frame and having a pivotal connectlon j with said beam and fa unlversal connection with said frame, a handle connected-to said post, whereby said post ma be manipulated Y to mani ulate said prope lore, and means for driving said first-mentioned shafts. Intestimony whereof I have signed my name to this, specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

CHARLES ALBERT HAMILTON;

Witnesses:

Looms NQMXNLEY, CHARBES A. Wanner.

either of said clutch faces, a lever for oper- "15 

